BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

gprep triangles

Expert replies
Source: — Problem Solving |

by NikolayZ » Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:36 am
Ok. You have 2 similar triangles in this problem.

s is the base of small triangle, S is that of a big one.
So sides and height of a big triangle may be expressed as k*s=S and k*h=H, where s is a base, and h - is a height.
(NB: k is a coefficient, literally - a ratio of S and s)
the area of small triangle equals :
1/2*h*s
whereas the area of big one equals:
1/2*kh*ks
we know that the area of a big triangle is twice the area of a small one.
2(1/2*h*s)=1/2kh*ks
h*s=1/2kh*ks
1=1/2k^2 ==> k^2=2 and k=sqrt(2).
Hence S=s*k=sqrt(2)s.

hope it helpes.
Join the discussion

by khushboo143 » Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:08 am
hey thanks a lot....even i had the same doubt and was about to post it!!
Join the discussion

by xcusemeplz2009 » Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:09 am
its a direct formula q

for two similar tri

a1/a2=(s1)^2/(s2)^2

a2=2a1

i.e
1/2=s^2/S^2
or S=s*rut2
It does not matter how many times you get knocked down , but how many times you get up
Join the discussion

by uptowngirl92 » Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:03 pm
*Kicking myself*
Thanks had forgotten the hardly used formula
Join the discussion